Sunday, April 17, 2005

As a divison level manager here at LANL

From Anonymous:

I think Godwin's post is very articulate. As a divison level manager here at LANL I've grown increasingly disenchanted with upper management and UC's inability to impose any kind of adult supervision. Our entire management approach has degenerated into something some anthropology student could do a very interesting dissertation on. The number of standing meetings, work force reviews, director's reviews, program reviews, division reviews, STOP trainings, etc. are totally consuming. There is no time to actually focus any effort on our mission. It's most discouraging. While I'm not anxious to have my retirement raided by NNSA and I greatly appreciate the benefits package we have with UC, I'm ready for a change. I've been here almost 20 years and I'd like to accomplish something meaningful in my remaining time here. Something other than the silliness that consumes nearly all of my time now, merely struggling every day to "keep the doors open" for business by adhering to the never ending myriad of crap that flows down on us from above.

Bravo! A division level manager who has the courage to criticize upper LANL management. How sad that it must be done anonymously. How much longer are we going to have to wait to get rid of Nanos and his crew of yes-persons?

Dear Poster,You sound like a person of integrity. Why don't 3 or 4 division directors ( securely vested ) get together and approach Nanos with an ultimatum. Either he resign immediately or they will resign and publically say why. Would this bring Nanos down? I think it might if they were key division directors. But are there any division directors left with the guts to try it?

I believe 12:08 was suggesting that Division directors offer to resign, not the ADs. Of _course_ the ADs don't have the aggregate integrity and courage to stand up to Nanos. Maybe a few of the division-level managers have, but I rather suspect not.

12:08:01 says, "Why don't 3 or 4 division directors ( securely vested ) get together and approach Nanos with an ultimatum. Either he resign immediately or they will resign and publically say why." Here's why: because he'd accept the resignations and nothing would change. Does anyone really believe that today's division leaders have so much stature that this threat would carry any weight?

The prudent course for all of us is to maintain a low profile and wait it out. In sailing parlance, heave to and let the storm pass. Clear skies will follow.

Even if the UC contract is extended for a year (today's hot rumor) Nanos has been chastised enough and being watched hard enough that he's not going to do anything rash. This blog has rendered him impotent. Thank you Doug!